0978. The Overcomers at Pergamos

The Overcomers at Pergamos

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches: To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." (Rev_2:17)

The church had gotten into a sad condition at Pergamos, but there were left certain ones who had not bowed the knee to Baal.

God always has, in every age and under every condition, those who stand aloof and who go all the way with Him.

In order to grasp the beauty of the Pergamos overcomers, we may follow our same general line of study, as that pursued in the Ephesus and Smyrna overcomers.

1. We have the vision of Christ. "These things saith He that hath the sharp sword with the two edges." Of course, we all know there is but one two-edged sword which the Master handles, it is sharp enough to divide between soul and spirit and the joints and marrow and it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart–it is the Word of God.

2. We have the vision of a church grown worldly and of a church under bondage to men. To be sure the sharp sword must cut between such a union and sever such a bondage. God has said, "Be ye separate." He also said, "Be not the servants of men."

Saints today are living in the midst of church conditions absolutely forbidden in the Word of God. If they are to be reckoned as "overcomers" they must pay the price of standing aloof. It is far more comfortable to the flesh to keep in the procession, to swing on in the apostasy than it is to be overcomers and to stem the tide.

3. We have the vision of disaster to those who continue under the sway of Balaamism and Nicolaitan-ism–"Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and fight against thee with the sword of My mouth."

It is God's Word which will judge the saints, both professors and possessors. Men today deny that Word, but they must either stand or fall before it some day.

When the sword falls it will cut a wide sweep, and its keen blade will be felt by many good-meaning Christians who have drifted with the tide.

4. We have the vision of those who overcome the Pergamos departure from Christ, those who are true, but isolated and maligned 'mid the world-mixing conditions that surround them.

(1) "To him that overcometh I give the hidden manna." Once again the mind goes back. This time to the people who were separated from Egypt, and isolated unto God. A people who dwelt alone and were not reckoned with the nations. To them, as they journeyed their wilderness way, God gave the manna from Heaven. So also to the overcomers will be given the Heavenly manna. Again, our mind goes on to another day. It is the day when the Pergamos overcomers will stand before the Lord. They once dwelt alone, they once were not reckoned among the nations. Now they are blessed–they, too, shall eat the Manna.

Of course, the manna is the Word of God. To the overcomer that Word is not a sharp sword that cuts asunder; it is the Bread that came down from Heaven to feed and to sustain.

This manna is "hidden," because "the natural man receiveth not the things of God, * * neither can he know them, because thy are spiritually discerned" (1Co_2:14).

This manna is given to the overcomer, because "He hath revealed it (His Word) unto us by His Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God" (1Co_2:10).

(2) "To him that overcometh will I give * * a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."

We do not know the full significance of this white stone, one thing we do know–our God has made a "tryst" with those who overcome Balaamism and Nicolaitanism and He will keep His "tryst"–The "white stone" assures us that God will not be unfaithful to forget our "separation" unto Him.

The new name is written in the "white stone." It is a name which will be suggestive and full of meaning–applicable only to the one who wears it and to Him Who gives it.

Bless God, for the "white stone" and for its inscribed name.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR